Cushioning device for shoulder straps



Feb. 18, 1958 c. F. CRAWFORD 2,823,383

CUSHIONING DEVICE FOR SHOULDER STRAPS Filed March 25, 1955 12: 212:? Claw F Crawfam United States- Patent 2,823,383 CUSHIONINGDEVICEFOR SHOULDER STRAPS.

Claud F. Crawford, Pasadena, Calif;, assignor to The Scholl Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, 111-, a corporation of New York Application March 25; 1955, Serial No. 496,752

1 Claim. (Cl. 2-2) This, invention relates to improvements in azeushionin device; for shoulder straps, and.v more: particularly? to... a soft cushioning element for.dispositionbeneath the shoulder straps of a user to eliminate objectionable and uncomfortable. frictional contact of those shoulden straps With the shoulders of a user, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of devices have been developed for preventing shoulder straps of slips, brassieres, and other female undergarments from grooving, chafing, or otherwise irritating the shoulders of a user, but these formerly known devices have been objectionable in that they were not as comfortable as might be desired, were prone to migrate from their desired location in some instances, were not as easily and readily attachable and removable as may be desired, could not be laundered in many cases whenever desired, and in other instances were uncomfortably warm in the region of contact with the body. Furthermore, shoulder cushioning devices of this character were frequently objectionably expensive as heretofore made. In addition, devices of this character heretofore known frequently caused unwelcome bulges detracting from the appearance of outer garments.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a soft and comfortable cushioning device for shoulder straps which may quickly and easily be connected with and disconected from one or more shoulder straps.

Also an object of the invention is the provision of a cushioning device for shoulder straps affording an even and uninterrupted contact with the shoulder of a user, with extremely simple means for connecting the cushioning device with one or more shoulder straps.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a cushioning device for shoulder straps in the form of a soft padlike member of such character as to provide a gentle clinging contact with the skin of the user, and simple means for connecting one or more shoulder straps with the pad over the upper surface of the pad.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a simple form of cushioning device for shoulder straps embodying a laminated pad, comprising a relatively thick lower layer of cushioning material, and a relatively thin cover member, the cover member only being provided with one or more pairs of laterally spaced slits, there being a ribbon passing through each pair of slits, with simple means for removably connecting the ends of the ribbon.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a cushioning device for shoulder straps embodying a relatively thick layer of foam latex for contact with the body of the user, and a thin skin-like rubber covering over the foam latex, the cover being provided with one or more pairs of laterally spaced slits therein, and the cover being secured to the foam latex cushioning element elsewhere than between a pair of slits, being free from the foam latex cushioning member in that region ice to accommodate a simpl'etribbon threaded through. the slits and; provided; with complemental snap fastening means to removably connect the free ends ,of' thle ribbon over one ormore shoulder straps.

While some, of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent fromthefollowing; disclosures, taken inconjunction with-the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure] isa fragmentary diagrammaticillustration of the upper part ofthe female body. showinga pair: of cushioning devices embodying principles: of the" instant invention in operative position;

Figure 2i.is-..an enlarged top-plan view. of oneof the cushioning devices.v illustrating one? securing: means in closed position, and the other in open position;v

Figure .3.- i z-au; enlarged transverse: vertical sectional view-takenzsubs antiallyasiindi atedflby theline III- 111 of 2, ngriu the. direction of: the arroivtsxandw.

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IVIV of Fig. 2.

As shown on the drawings:

In Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown the upper portion of a female torso designated by numeral 1, provided with a garment 2 in the form of a brassiere having a pair of shoulder straps 33. These shoulder straps pass over and are connected with cushioning devices, generally indicated by numerals 44, embodying principles of the instant invention.

Now with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that each of the cushioning devices embodies a laminated pad comprising a relatively thick layer 5 of cushioning material. This layer 5 is preferably made-of foam latex of the character having intercommunicative cells so as to be somewhat ventilative in character. Foam latex of this character is extremely light in weight, soft and gentle yet clinging in contact with the human skin, and the lower surface of the layer 5 is preferably uncovered so that the foam latex is directly in contact with the skin of the user. Over the layer 5 is a relatively thin skin-like cover 6 which is preferably of a thin rubber of the general character of dental dam rubber. This material is stronger in character than the foam latex, not prone to tear, and presents a relatively smooth outer surface over which a shoulder strap may readily slide in response to bodily movements of the user.

The composite laminated pad is preferably provided with a serrated bounding edge 7 therearound, the serrations increasing the length of the bounding edge and providing a better and closer fit of a tight outer garment by virtue of the gradual and increasing depression of the teeth of the serrations toward the points thereof.

The top skin-like cover layer of the laminated pad is provided with one or more pairs of laterally spaced slits as indicated at 8, two such pairs being shown in the illustrated example. The upper layer is bonded to the lower foam latex layer, preferably by vulcanizing or in an equivalent manner, elsewhere than between each pair of slits, and the upper layer is free from any bond with the lower layer between the slits of each pair.

Threaded through the slits of each pair, as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4, is a ribbon or strap 9, which may well be made of a suitable silken fabric of any desirable color. Thus, the engaged portion of each ribbon or strap underlies the cover lamination 6, but overlies the lower cushioning lamination 5. One end of each strap or ribbon is provided with a suitable male snap member 10, and the opposite end is provided with a complemental female snap member 11 which are of the type of well known snap fasteners.

It is a simple expedient to open the snap fastening elements of a ribbonythread the end sufliciently to place the shoulder strap or straps therebetween, and then reengage the snap fastening elements so as to removably attach the shoulder strap or straps to the cushioning device, and with the shoulder straps overlying. the cush- 'ioning device lengthwise. The cushioning devices may be left engaged with the shoulder straps if Sddesired, or

"easily opened and removed when the undergarments are removed.

It willbe noted that each cushioning device provides a soft gentle clinging contact with the shoulder of the .user, efiectively prevents any rubbing, chafing, or objectionable pressure contact with the shoulder of the user bythe shoulder straps o't undergarments, and each cushioning device will accommodate one or a plurality of shoulder straps... ,The cushioning devices are economical in construction, extremely simple. to operate, highly durable, may be readily laundered in their entirety whenever I desired, and are extremely economical to manufacture and use. i

It will be understood that modificationsand variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as-my invention:

In a cushioning device for shoulder straps, a flat laminated pad including a relatively thick layer of foam cushioning material, and a thin skin-like layer of rubberlike material over said foam layer, said skin-like layer only having a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending slits therein and being secured to said foam layer elsewhere than between said slits to define a transversely extending elongated loop integral with the skinlike layer, a ribbon threaded through said loop, and snapfastener means carried by theends of said ribbon to unite said ends over a shoulder strap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

